The most wasted day of all is that in which we have not laughed.

    -Sebastien-Roch Nicolas Chamfort

The vast majority of people believe that physical decline, loss of functionality, weight gain, fat gain, muscle loss and declining health are the inevitable results of aging. Fortunately, the majority are WRONG! While aging is associated with dramatic changes in body composition, specifically increased fat and decreased lean body tissue, it is physical inactivity and over consumption of high caloric food and drink that creates the problem, not aging! You need only to look at Master Level Athletes, men and women who train at elite levels of competitive performance to see 80+ year olds who have greater strength, speed, power, flexibility and anaerobic and aerobic endurance than untrained 20-30 year olds.

Without a steady exercise program, past the age of 70, a decline in body weight occurs due to sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass). Research by Dr. Flynn (et al., 1989) suggests that muscle mass decreases 3-6% per decade in the physically inactive. Along with the decrease in muscle, the inactive senior citizen will experience an increase in fat mass. This fat mass typically results in greater risk to health since it tends to accumulate as visceral fat. Visceral fat is associated with an increase in risk in approximately 65 different diseases, disabilities and dysfunctions including Heart Disease (CHD, CAD, CPD, etc.), certain cancers, obesity, Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes, the current leading causes of death.

According to Drs. Najjar and Rowland (1987), body weight tends to increase throughout middle age, stabilizes for a time and decreases after the age of 65 years. Numerous other studies concur with these findings. Body Mass Index follows a very similar pattern.

The Yale Health and Aging Study showed older Americans lost an average of 1.3 pounds per year (Dziura, Mendes de Leon, Kasl and DiPietro). Dr. Steen (1988) showed that 70 year olds had lost 40% of the skeletal muscle they had achieved in early adulthood. By comparison the kidneys lost 9%, the liver lost 18% and the lungs 11%.

Numerous studies have shown that improving muscle strength through resistance training increases not only overall strength, but cross-sectional muscle area as well. What is even more critical is the overall increase in functional improvements and in ADLs (Activities for Daily Living). Numerous research reports show dramatic improvements in quality of life in older patients. Dr. Fiatarone and colleagues (1994) classic experiment showed patients between the ages of 72 and 98 increased gait speed by 9%, stair-climbing power by 34%, and overall physical activity by 50%.

The IFPA and its sister organization, The Fellowship in Preventative Medicine, Nutrition and Sports Medicine (FPMNSM), has developed specific exercise and nutrition prescriptions to generate the physiology of virtually all deconditioned patients. In most cases, the IFPA/FPMNSM Protocols will not only prevent the development of 65 different diseases, disabilities and dysfunctions, but can also reverse many of these disorders. Many doctors who have used these protocols for themselves, their families and patients report 20 years of regeneration in as little as 8 weeks! The FPMNSM protocols are proving to be the very best treatment for over 80% of all the disorders that affect patients.

The FPMNSM Modules I and III will be presented in Las Vegas, December 9-12, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide doctors the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to expand their scope of practice to incorporate exercise and nutrition prescriptions in their medical practice. This new scope of practice will enable them to utilize fitness professionals to execute their prescriptions under medical supervision. Ideally the doctor’s exercise prescriptions will be executed within or adjacent to the doctor’s medical practice or in close proximity to the facility. The patient will benefit greatly from these prescriptions, which can vary from Anti-Aging Fitness Programs to the Sports Medicine Athletes. The IFPA/FPMNSM Treatment and Protocols can be used for the care and treatment of the patient’s disorders, as well as regenerate the patient to youth and full functionality. The goal is to develop a new medical model to prevent disease and compensate the doctor for keeping the patient healthy as opposed to the health-care model used mow that simply manages disease. Doctors can now enjoy a career as a true “Healer” and be rewarded mentally, emotionally, physically and financially. Fitness Professionals will benefit from working with the doctor and the patient on a results-based program, dedicated to helping the patient achieve success!

While the Anti-Aging Medicine Practice is focused on the “mature population”, the FPMNSM Medical Practice can focus on EVERYONE! For every man, woman, and child need the correct dose of the doctor’s exercise prescription.

For more information contact the IFPA at 800-785-1924 (www.ifpa-fitness.com) or contact the A4M directly at 888-997-0112 (www.worldhealth.net).